Method of constructing sheathed filler members



Oct-27, 1925. f 1,559,533

' L. EVANS METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING SHEATHED FILLER MEMBERS Filed Feb. 9,1924 w/ mass/:5 4 LYNN E l AN .5 INVENTOR.

I W 5 Y W A TTORNEY.

Patented Oct. 27, 19 25.

UNITED STATES 1,559,533 PATENT OFFICE.

LYNN EVANS, OF CORTLAND, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE'BREWER-TITOHENERCORPORATION, OF CORTLAND, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING SHEATHED FILLER MEMBERS.

Application filedFebruary 29, 1924.. Serial No. 696,003;

To all whom it may concern:

\ Be it known that I, LYNN Evans, a citi-- zen of the United States, anda resident of Cortland, in thecounty of Cortland and State of New York,have invented certain new and useful, Improvements in a Method ofConstructing Sheathed Filler Members, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates-to a novel constructive method for making metalencased core or filler blocks, and particularly such as pertain to theproduction ofan improved type of composite bow as applied to a vehicletop frame. The object of my invention is to provide an improved methodfor constructing bows and like structures wherein a laminated fibrousfiller member is covered with a sheetmetal sheath conforming to thecross-sectional contour of the filler block.

The laminated wood-like filler member is preferably cut into a uniformrectangular shape" and this is fully encased on three of its sides bymeans of asuitable bent channel shaped sheet metal sheath strip. Theprojecting edges of said strip are further crimped inwardly over thefourth side of said filler to constitute a peripherally incomplete tube.

The longitudinal sheath edges are spaced apart so as to form a slot oraccess gap therebetween which allows of convenient access to the fillerblock for tacking purposes throughout the length of the bow. Underlyingthe spaced wing or edge portions of said sheath and servingto span saidslot, I provide for a bridge strip lamination which may be made eitherof the same or different material from.that used for the. remainder ofthe laminated filler but is preferablymade of suitable sheetmaterialisuch as fibr'e or the like which completes said tubular sheathenclosure.

The component parts are initially formed in straight sectional lengths,and when assembled, the encased laminated wood-like filler may readilybe bent cold without the need of a steaming process to give the fillerincreased pliabilitya By the 'use of said bridge strip in associationwith said other laminated core, the filler block is less liable tosliver or check while being bent into any desired shape for .the reasonthat the separate lamination-s tend to slip over each other while thecomplete confinement of the filler by the outermost lamination or bridgestrip, brings a counter pressure to bear against all 'sides ofthefille'r block. Furthermore, in the event that the interior orconcealed fibrous tillers should show signs ofexcessive sl'ivering, theresulting splinters are held snugly encased and prevented fromprojecting outward from the sheath enclosure by the protective armorafforded by said bridge strip.

As applied to transverse bows for vehicle top frames, it is preferred tomake the bridge strip either of perforated metal or of heavy card-boardand similar fibrous sheet material that may readily be penetrated bymeans of tacks or nails for the purpose of securing the vehicle deckfabric parts to the liller blocks of my improved type of how while thesheath prop-er is left imperforate except for its characteristicaccessory gap. The provision of a bridge strip affords substantially thesame advantages as to bending the encased filler block as doesa-complctely closed metal sheath but without destroying. the accessorytacking feature thereof. v f i Embodied herein are also further featuresof structure adapted to facilitate the application and forming'of saidfiller sheaths and bridge strips therefor, all of which will be setforth hereinafter.

i For a more detailed description of my invention, reference is had tothe accompanying one sheetof drawings which illustrate an example of itspreferred embodiment;- like characters of reference indicate like partsin the several views, and in which drawing:

Fig. 1, illustrates an elevational view of a metal encased wooden fillerblock, taken in section lengthwise of a bent-or knee element of atransverse bow as used for vehicle'top frames. 1

Fig. 2, represents a cross-sectional view as taken along the line 22 ofFlg. 1 to. show in further detail the rectangular filler block togetherwith an incomplete sheath therefor and a bridge strip. spanning saidFig. 8, indicates an elevational view of a permanent top frame for avehlcle deck and the method of applying a bent transverse bow to theside rails thereof.

Fig. 4, represents a partial perspective view illustrating a bent bow orknee element similar toFig. 1, but showing a modification in the type ofbridge strip used therefor. H

Fig. 5, is a cross-sectional view of the kneeelements as taken alongline -5 of Fig. 4.

by the metal sheath than is shown in the other figures.

Referring bodiment of my invention as applied to.a transversevehiclebow, which bow comprises a crown or longitudinal element A theend portions of which are provided with the legs B and B as formed bythe corner or knee elements 0 and C respectively. The legs of this boware suitably fastened to a pair of complementary side rails; such as Dand D which are intended to be supported over the vehicle bodyandcovered by means of a deck fabric in the conventional manner. Thesubject matter of the present invention more largely resides in improvedmethod of making the knee elements of said bows or like structures inthe manner, illustrated in detail by Figs. 1 and 2.

The wood filler block C of the knee section such as (3,, is preferablybut not necessarily madedn a'cross-sectionally rectangular shape asshown. This filler may comprise two or more laminations including thebridge strip,'which are almost wholly, encased by the metal sheath C,and said filler preferably extends along the entire bow length. Saidsheath may initially be formed in substantially straight tubular lengthor section'from a strip of soft sheet metal of suitable width adapted tosnugly encase three sides of the laminated rectangular filler block Cand at the same time dis- A posed about the fourthside of said block insuch a manner as to provide for a longtudinal slot or access gap Gspaced between the inwardly crimped strip edges or wing portions of thesheath, designated as 0 When rolled or drawn in one operation, the setof overhung wing parts 0 as initially formed do not bear down againstthe fourth side of said filler 0 but are held in a spaced relationthereto to provide room for inserting the bridge strip C shown in Thislong narrow bridge strip 0 serves to closethe longitudinal gap C and ispreferably cut to fit the inside dimens ons of the sheath width, wherebysaid strip edges are.

made to' abut the sidewalls of said sheath and to fully underlie the twointurned wing portions C of the sheath. After the-various members areproperly assembled, they may be runthrough a roll or press for theurpose of firmly crimping down both wings 12 against the encased fillerand bridge members. r As an alternative method for forming the fillercasing, the straight sheath length may initially be rolled into achannel or trough first to Fig. '3, showing an emlike cross-sectionalshape. The filler block is then placedinto the bottom of said chan- .nelwith the bridge strip laid upon. said block. The legs of the channel arepurposely made sufficiently long to project be yond the adjacent fillersides to allow of crimping same over the edges of the assemble bridgestrip and still provide for the gap C between the inner edges of thein-v turned channel legs, a

Thereupon, the assembled filled sheath lengths'may, if desired, beshaped or bent in a cold state-transversely of the fiat bridge strip,that is to say without prior steaming, to form relatively sharp curvedor radius portions such as the bow knees G and C shown in Fig. 3. Thisoperation may readily be performed by bending said assembled sheathovera suitable roll to fol-many reasonable radius desired. It is pointed.out that; the metal'sheath serves to retain and 551a the filler in thedesired bent shape notwithstanding that the laminated elements of thefiller propermay tend to return to their original shape. j 7

As regards the material used as filler or core members for the sheath,these are preferably but not necessarily made of strips of wood such asstraight grained slippery elm or red elm, white elm, ash or oak and thelike. It is customary to thoroughly soak such woods in boiling water orto steam same for a protracted period in order to soften the wood fibersprior to bending same. Without the described provision for a completesheath, and if bent in a cold state, the

wood filler would tend to rupture and splinter badly, but by the use ofthe surrounding sheath and its complementary bridge strip, the fillercan more readily be bent to conform to any reasonable radius shouldoccur, the fibrous bridge strip serves to cover up and confine thesplinters within the sheath enclosure so as to prevent bodily injury orother harmful effects in the use of bent shows or similar parts. Inaddition to providing for the described tacking facilities, the bridgestrip C also neatly covers any bending flaws in the filler and presentsa smooth and trimmed appearance along its entire surface. It will beapparent that the bridge strip need not run along the entire length ofthe how but if desired, may only be applied to the knee portionsthereof.

A modified type of filler block over that previously described is shownin Fig. 6 in so far as the woo-d is laminated into aplurality ofrelatively'thin stripssuch as 0, ,0 and C which together constitute abundle of filler blocksf buch divided wood strips. facilitatp thebending peration and serve to splitting 'posite sheathed members.

obviate checking or slivering, when the combined or overall thickness ofthe filler strips should be excessixe and beyond that suitable for asingle or integral filler block. It will be apparent that the use of afiller block and its superimposed bridge strip such. as has beenpreviously described in connection with Fig. 2, itself constitutesalaminated filler block for the com- As applied to the transverse bowshown in Fig.3, it Will be understood that the plural preferably runfrom end to end of said bow.

The bridge strip (J shown in Fig. 2, may

be made of any ,kind of material'suitable for the purpose described; ifdesired, said strip may also be made of Wood similar to the remainderof. the filler block, but when used in connection with a transverse bow,it is preferred -to employ sheet fibre, heavy card or paste-board orsimilar non-fibrous sheet material therefor, since this prevents easypenetration of same by means of tacks, nails or the like. In suchapplications, the access gap 13 of the bow is preferably made to serveas a tacKing slot for fastening the deckfabric of the vehicle top to thebow, the fabric being mounted over the exterior of the bows and siderails in the conventional manner.

Similar results may be obtained by the use of a perforated bridge stri Csuch as is shown in Figs. 4- and 5. his modified bridge strip is made ofperforated sheet metal having closely spaced holes 0 which facilitatethe penetration through said metal strip by tacks or other fasteningmeans without having to pierce the sheath metal; A close mesh wirescreen may similarly be utilized as a bridge strip, but in }all suchcases the function is substantially identical With that of the fibrousmaterial previously described in connection with the bridge strip C InFig. 5, C illustrates a deck fabric for a Vehicle top which is intendedto cover 'the transverse bow and this may be secured to the wood fillerC by means of suitably spaced tacks such as (1, which pass through thebridge stfip inthe: manner indicated.

While the assembled sheathed filler blocks may be bent in a cold stateas described in order to save the trouble and expense of steaming priorto bending, it will be evident that when wholly encased within a" metalsheath and bridge member, the wood filler proper may still be partiallyor fully steamed, should this step be desired. In certain cases, it maybe expedient to resort to a steaming process for the filler, especiallywhen it is necessary to prevent all checking or rupture of the fillerfibers or when it is preferred to utilize somewhat cheaper grades ofwood filler blocks which are partially cross-grained or not entirelyfree from knots.

especially so I filler strips are and at the same'time admits of It willbe apparent that the use of'the reenforcing metal sheath imparts 'alargemeasure of strength *tothe enclosed filler block for anygivenexternal dimensions, and that this allows of making the partsconsiderably smaller and more compact as compared to an unsheathed woodbow or like 7 part 'Furthermore, the described incom-.

plete tubular sheath member may be readily and economically formed, andsince the bridge strip. extends across and laterally braces the sidewalls of the tube adjacent to the gapC this rcenforcement practicallybrings the filler sheathup to its fully closed tubular strength.

It is pointed Qutthat the sheath and itsbridge strip need notnecessarily be rectangular in cross-sectional shape, but instead thesemembers may readily be given a circular or modified contour, if sopreferred.

Furthermore, if is not essential for the longitudinal gap (3,, to extendalong the entire sheath length as described, and 111- stead a series ofsuitably spaced openings cut into either edge of the sheath wouldlikewise serve accessory purposes. It will be understood therefore thatthe'described sheath structure for filler blocks may readily bemodifiedto serve different conditions and purposes, and that various,changes in the details of my method may be resorted to without departingfrom the spirit and scope of any invention, heretofore described andmore, particularly pointed out in the ap-.

pended claims.

Claims:

1. The method of constructing composite members, which method :consistsof introducing within a longitudinally continuous but peripherallyincomplete unitary sheet metal sheath, a laminated fillerblock-including a bridge strip made of material differing from that inthe remainder of said laminated block and adapted to cover and concealsaid remainin laminations within said incomplete sheat said sheath belngdisposed to grip and hold together all the filler-laminations withoutneed of supplementary securin means. v

2. The metho of constructing bent composite members, which methodconsists of introducing within a longitudinally continuous butperipherally incomplete unitary sheet-metal sheath, a laminatedwood-like or similar ingrained fibrous filler block having the majorportion of its superficial surface encased by said incomplete sheath andgripped thereby to hold together the filler laminations -without need ofsupplementary securing means, and; thereupon bending the assembledcomposlte member aforesaid.

3. The method of constructing bent composite members, which methodconsists of introducing within a longitudinally continusheath provided'iibrous filler block,

posite members, which method consists of introducing into the b0tt0m 0fa cross-sectionally channel-shaped metal sheath, a laminated wood-likeor similar ingrained then crimping over both legs of said channel uponsaid filler to constitutea gap between the longitudinal edges of saidsheath, and thereupon bending the assembled composite members aforesaidinto a knee or radius shape.

5. The method of constructing bent composite members, which methodconsists of introducing into a longitudinally continuous butperipherally incomplete sheet-metal sheath provided with an access gapbetween the edges'thereof, a laminated. filler block including a bridgestrip which strip is disposed to underlie the spaced longitudinal edgesof said sheath, and is made ofa material differing from that of theremainder of said laminated block, and thereupon.

bending the assembled composite members aforesaid.

6. The method of constructing bent composite members, which methodconsists of introducing within a longitudinal continuous butperipherally incomplete sheet metal sheath provided with an access gapbetween 1 the longitudinal edges thereof, a laminated '7. The method ofconstructing bent com-' posite bows, which method consists ofintroducing Within a longitudinally continuous but peripherallyincomplete sheet-metal [sheath provided with an access said sheath, alaminatedwood-like or similar ingrained fibrous filler block including abridge strip which is superimposed upon the vre-mainder of saidlaminated block and adapted to span said gap, and thereupon bending theend portions of the assembled composite bow member into a set of kneesto form the respective legs for said bow.

8. The method of constructing bent composite bows, troducing within alongitudinally continuous butperipherally incomplete sheet-metal sheathprovided with an access gap between gap through which method consists ofin-' the longitudinal edges thereof, a laminated LYNN EVANS.

